After pausing two years due to the Corona pandemic, the Oktoberfest in Munich will take place this year again from September 17 to October 3, 2022 – “without conditions and restrictions”. This was announced today by Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter announced the decision at a press conference.
He had a hard time making the decision, Reiter explained in his statement. Both the war in Ukraine, which could make such celebrations seem inappropriate, and the infectious disease situation had played a role in his considerations, the city leader assured.
"Ultimately, it's up to everyone to decide for themselves anyway whether and how much they want to celebrate at the Volksfest," he said.
At the moment, there are no plans to impose restrictions on access to the tents due to Corona or to impose conditions such as a mask requirement. Lord Mayor Reiter stressed that there is currently no legal authority for this: "Both the federal government and the Free State of Bavaria have not created any legal regulation that would enable me as Lord Mayor to issue any access restrictions (...)".
"I'm looking forward to a Oktoberfest 2022 that I hope everyone who wants to go will enjoy," said the Lord Mayor.
It is the 187th Oktoberfest since its inception in 1810, when Munich residents were invited to the wedding of the future King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
According to estimates, the Oktoberfest generates direct and indirect sales of about one billion euros - from sales at the Oktoberfest itself through hotel and catering to all the other offers in the city. Every year about 2 million foreign guests come to Munich; thereof 70% visit the Oktoberfest, consuming about 73,000 hl of beer (2019).
The traditional tapping of the first beer barrel in the Schottenhamel tent by the Lord Mayor will mark the start of the 187th Oktoberfest on September 17, 2022 at 12 noon. This year, the so-called "Oide Wiesn" with historic rides will be back. Due to the Corona pandemic, the world's largest folk festival had to be canceled twice in a row in 2020 (inside.beer, 21.4.2020) and 2021 (inside.beer, 3.5.2021).
